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11 Rescue those who are being taken away to death;
    hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”
    does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,
    and will he not requite man according to his work?

13 My son, eat honey, for it is good,
    and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
14 Know that wisdom is such to your soul;
    if you find it, there will be a future,
    and your hope will not be cut off.

15 Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous;
    do not violence to his home;
16 for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again;
    but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.

17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
    and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles;
18 lest the Lord see it, and be displeased,
    and turn away his anger from him.

19 Fret not yourself because of evildoers,
    and be not envious of the wicked;
20 for the evil man has no future;
    the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

21 My son, fear the Lord and the king,
    and do not disobey either of them;[a]
22 for disaster from them will rise suddenly,
    and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?

Further Sayings of the Wise

23 These also are sayings of the wise.

Partiality in judging is not good.
24 He who says to the wicked, “You are innocent,”
    will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations;
25 but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,
    and a good blessing will be upon them.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 24:21 Gk: Heb do not associate with those who change

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